Aerial signaling device.



I [MW ATTORNEY.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

2; Fig. 2.

' P. W. ERIGKSON. AERIAL SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 00w 1 1905 No. 829,640. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

P. w. ERIOKSO'N.

AERIAL SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION I'ILEIJ 0017,1005.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig.5; e

ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES:

UNITED srnrns PATENT OFFICE.

.FREDERIGK WM. ERICKSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE THALF TO FREDERICK W. LORD, OF IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS- AERIAL SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

muted Aug. 28, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICKWM. Enron- SON, residing at New York, in the county and State'of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Aerial Signaling Devices,

' of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to aerial electric signs, and has reference to a sign suspendedfrom a captive balloon by means of guy ropes or rods, the sign lying in a horizon tal direction beneath the balloon and may be of any shape desired, and by means of a rud-.

tion, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the en- I tire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the electric sign. Fig. 3 is an end view of the Windlass; and Fig. 4 is a side View of the same, partlyin section. Fig. 5is a plan view of a lamp-receptacle and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the same, showing it attached to the sign.-

In the drawings, a represents a balloon filled with a gas li hter than air, its u per portion covered wit a net 2, the stran s of which are attached to a girth-ring 1, from which ropes 3 extend to and are connected with a sign 1), consisting of a frame 4, having a rudder 8 attached at one-end. The said end has lu s 9 9 to receive the extensions 10 10 from t e rudder, and a rod 10 extends through the lugs and extensions. The extensions project on each side and ateach end receive the tiller-ropes 11, which are attached to the sides of the rudder and extend along the top of the frame 4 and pass through rings 25 therein and then are carried to the ground. 4

Between the sides 4 of the frame bis a netting 5, on one side of which are placed the letters of the sign 6, made of silk, which are secured to the netting by thread, and at suitable places on each letter are secured the lamp-receptacles g, having a central threaded orifice to receive the lamp 7 and with a plurality of feet 40, perforated at their ends to receive rivets 44,which pass through the letters 6 and the netting 5. As indicated in Fig. 4, the wires to from the cable 12 extend along the sign, preferably on the opposite side from the letters 6, and the'lamps are bridged between them. The cable is suitably Anchoring-ropes 13 and 14 connect to the sign band are adapted to be fastened to a base-plate c on the ground or other support when the sign is raised. To the said baseplate is secured a bolt 16, pivoted to which is a bar 17, having at its upper end a pulley 18, under which the cable passes. A cleat 19 is provided on one side of the bar, to which the tiller-ropes 11 11 may be secured.

The Windlass d has a frame 20, having at each end bearings 29 to support the shaft 28, which carries the drum 21, u on which the cable 12 may be wound. T e ends of the drum have upon their peri heries ratchets 26 and 27 into which drop t e pawls 22 and 23, res ectively, to serve for holding the drum om turning in either direction. A crank-lever 24 is secured to the shaft 28. Upon one head or end of the Windlass is a ring of insulation 50, to which is secured four metal commutator-rings e, and extending from each ringthrough the head is abolt 32, terminating on the inside of the head with binding screws 31. Each binding screw holds one end of a cable-conductor. Collector-brushes" 30 are attached to the frame 20, each composed of a conducting post 33, adapted to bear upon a commutator-ring. Each wire w is therefore connected by b0 t 32 to its ring e and brush 33 to wire w which leads to the source of electricity, which may be a battery or other generator.-

The operation of the invention is apparent, as when the balloon is down the cable is wound on the drum, and to elevate the same the cable is unwound and the balloon rises by its buoyancy and lifts the suspended elements. When it has reached the pro er elevation,it is anchored b the ropes 14, t e current is turned on, and t e lamps li hted, all in a manner comprehensible from t e previous description.

I claim as my invention 1. In an aerial device, a balloon adapted to be anchored -to the earth by guyropes, having a sign suspended therefrom, provided at one end with a rudder, ropes secured on each side of the rudder which extend to the 7' center of the sign and downward, whereby the rudder may be turned to an angle wit the sign, as set forth,

2. Inan aerial device,aballoonwithmeans two Subscribing witnesses, this 4th day of for anchoring the same, an electric sign sus- October, 1905. pendedv therefrom, a rudder attached to the sign with guide-ropes extending therefrom I FREDERICK ERICKSON 5 to the sign and downward, as set forth. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my JAMEs M. WATTERS,

name to this specification, in the presence of WELLINGTON E. SoBEY. 

